Hypoacousis prevalence in Kaiowá and Guarani indigenous children

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: to determine hypoacousis prevalence in Kaiowá and Guarani indigenous children. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was performed using a sample of 126 indigenous children from zero to 59 months old from the Caarapó Indian Reserve, Mato Grosse do Sul, Brazil. Hearing ability screening was performed by measuring transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. Children with hearing impairment were retested. Confirmed cases following retest were referred to imitanciometry testing. RESULTS: during hearing ability screening, 25 (23.6%) children showed hearing impairment. Seventeen children had normal outcomes during retest and six of them confirmed hearing impairment and were referred to imitanciometry testing. Hypoacousis prevalence identified by the study reached 5.6%, 3 (2.8%) and 3 (2.8%) suggestive of conductive and sensorineural types, respectively. The last ones were referred to complementary otorhinolaryngologic assessment for diagnosis confirmation. Hearing impairment cases determined by this study were not statistically significant when related to gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: problems concerning the prevalence of hearing impairment determined in the focused population suggest the need for hearing health programs to be developed with other child health programs.